Bus

Under proposed bill, transit benefits would stay higher

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Post reported that some representatives in Congress are proposing that the $245-a-month in pre-tax benefits that commuters who use public transit now receive become permanent.

In January, Congress had approved increasing the pre-tax benefit from $125 as part of the “fiscal cliff” resolution, but it is set to expire at the end of the year and would drop to $125 a month.

In 2012, public transit riders saw the cap reduced to $125 a month from $230 in 2011. For the full story, click here.

The campaign is similar to the one developed for subways, with the focus on reminding passengers that avoiding certain behaviors can ensure a faster and more pleasant ride for everyone. Reminders include step aside to let others off first; remove your backpack; and don’t clip your nails on the bus.

While Founder Matt George is interested in connecting Capitol Hill, K Street and Dupont Circle, it’s not yet clear if those will be the neighborhoods Bridj starts with. The start-up is encouraging interested customers to request specific routes on its website

Des Moines Area Regional Transit's 60-foot low floor articulated buses will replace high-floor buses and include newly installed ramps, remanufactured power trains, transmissions, engines and brakes. It will also be equipped with two ADA compliant wheelchair lifts.